How High Should I Mount My TV on a Wall?

James Christopher

2 years ago

Getting a new HDTV is always exciting. Who does not like watching their shows, movies, and sports on a bigger and better screen? Of course, you are not just going to sit your new television on the ground in front of your couch — you need to mount it as well!

For many people, mounting their television is something that tends to get overlooked. After all, how complicated can it be to attach a TV to a wall? The reality is that there are a few considerations that should be made before mounting a TV. While the specific considerations will vary depending on your needs, there are a few common factors that everyone should take into account:

Finding the room’s seated eye-level

Whether you have a 32-inch screen or just purchased a 75 inch HDTV with a curved screen and all of the latest features, you want to figure out if putting the television at eye-level is feasible and optimal.

Figuring out eye-level is actually pretty simple. All you need to do is sit on your couch or chair, then have someone else use a tape measure to measure the distance between your eyes and the ground. If there are multiple couches that are at different heights, or if there is more than one person who will be watching the television on a regular basis, you can simply take the average distance and go from there!

Choosing the right wall mount

If you have never mounted a television before, you might be surprised to find that there are a few different options available to you. The following are the three main categories, along with the best use-cases for each:

Low profile fixed wall mounts – These are the simplest types of wall mounts, and are best for rooms in which one height and one direction are all that is needed for optimal viewing. If you do not have a particular reason to use a tilting or full motion mount, this is probably your best bet. To set up a fixed wall mount, all you need to do is determine the sitting eye-level for the room, then affix the mount so the center of the television will be at the height.

Tilting mounts – Tilting mounts are best for situations where the television cannot be placed at precisely eye level. Often this occurs when installing a television above a fireplace or in a fixed entertainment center. Tilting mounts can also be useful in situations where there are significant different eye-levels. For example, a room with couches that are low to the ground as well as a bar with raised stools.

Full motion mounts – These are the most flexible — and the most complicated — types of TV mounts. There are some situations where they are the best option, such as when you are mounting a television in the corner of a room, or when you expect to rearrange the furniture and don’t want to tear out the TV mount as well.

Should you install the wall mount yourself or hire a professional?

If this is your first time mounting a television onto your wall, it might be worthwhile to hire a professional to do it for you — or, at the very least ask a friend who has done it before to help you out. As a general rule of thumb, the more complicated a wall mount, the more likely it is that you’ll need someone to help you out — professional or otherwise. That means that basic fixed wall mounts are likely your best bet for a DIY project, while tilting and full motion mounts might justify a little assistance.

Whichever route you ultimately choose, make sure safety is your first consideration so that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your new HDTV!